Amis never liked Orwell, throwing away 1984 after reading an unpardonable cliché — “ruggedly handsome” — on the first page. “The man can’t write worth a damn,” was his verdict.
Isn’t that a tiny bit clichéd itself?
Simon Neale
11 months ago
Amis never liked Orwell, throwing away 1984 after reading an unpardonable cliché — “ruggedly handsome” — on the first page. “The man can’t write worth a damn,” was his verdict.
Isn’t that a tiny bit clichéd itself?
Steve Murray
11 months ago
Hmmm… i’ve never felt the slightest inclination to read Amis, and never met anyone who has. It’s telling, for instance, that the article in The Post section has remained uncommented upon after many hours (several hours prior to this article).
Amis always struck me as an example of that peculiar brand of snobbish Englishman, born into a coterie of insular ‘literary circle’ privilege and unable to escape it. I could easily be wrong, but that wouldn’t make him or his work any more compelling. Amis’ peremptory dismissal of 1984 also seems wrong, denying him the insights which have haunted us since it was written. Am i missing insights too?
What this article seems to suggest is the danger to our way of thinking of ChatGPT, where the majority of non-fiction becomes derivative rather than original, and then proliferates like a disease spreading throughout the body of our humanity as it feeds upon itself through the virus of cliché. For that, i’m grateful to the author, but not to Amis.
What a c**k-eyed response. Steve Murray hasn’t read Martin Amis, or had the slightest desire to do so, & doesn’t even know anyone else who has. Yet Amis has somehow “struck” him. Where did that happen — outside a pub after closing time?
Anyone who has read Amis, I mean with any attention, knows that snobbery was not one of his failings.
Your sarcasm is unwarranted, since what i’ve been “struck” with is a) listening to Amis when being interviewed or taking part in tv programmes, and b) reading thorough reviews of his work in sources such as TLS (Times Literary Supplement). He’s simply part of that London-centric crowd who have no idea what goes on outside quite a narrow milieu.
I’ll go further. If it weren’t for the accomplishments of his father, he’d never have found a publisher. There’s an immense volume of literature, and one has to be selective. On the basis of the article and your response, i’ll continue on my way happy to give Amis a miss as he fades into obscurity.
A TV interview with Amis during the time of Trump’s reign, and at the height of BLM hysteria, revealed him to be as utterly clueless about society and humanity as every other condescending, privileged, liberal literary type. His disdain for the American working class was about as snobby and ignorant as it gets.
If it weren’t for the accomplishments of his father, he’d never have found a publisher.
Respectfully, Steve, I think that’s unfair and untrue (in much the same way that being Francis Ford Coppola’s nephew got Nic Cage his opportunity in Hollywood, but his own talent kept him there).
I also take your point regarding ‘so many books, so little time’, but I’d say (while obviously knowing nothing about your taste in books) that you’re missing out by ignoring the best of Martin Amis. A lot of his later work left me cold, but Money is truly great, and his debut The Rachel Papers is one of the few genuinely laugh-out-loud books I’ve ever read.
A TV interview with Amis during the time of Trump’s reign, and at the height of BLM hysteria, revealed him to be as utterly clueless about society and humanity as every other condescending, privileged, liberal literary type. His disdain for the American working class was about as snobby and ignorant as it gets.
If it weren’t for the accomplishments of his father, he’d never have found a publisher.
Respectfully, Steve, I think that’s unfair and untrue (in much the same way that being Francis Ford Coppola’s nephew got Nic Cage his opportunity in Hollywood, but his own talent kept him there).
I also take your point regarding ‘so many books, so little time’, but I’d say (while obviously knowing nothing about your taste in books) that you’re missing out by ignoring the best of Martin Amis. A lot of his later work left me cold, but Money is truly great, and his debut The Rachel Papers is one of the few genuinely laugh-out-loud books I’ve ever read.
I read Martin before I read Kingsley. In fact, I only read Kingsley because he was Martin’s father. Martin is by far the better writer, and more interesting. Reading “Time’s Arrow” on a flight to London was a surreal – and unforgettable – experience.
Your sarcasm is unwarranted, since what i’ve been “struck” with is a) listening to Amis when being interviewed or taking part in tv programmes, and b) reading thorough reviews of his work in sources such as TLS (Times Literary Supplement). He’s simply part of that London-centric crowd who have no idea what goes on outside quite a narrow milieu.
I’ll go further. If it weren’t for the accomplishments of his father, he’d never have found a publisher. There’s an immense volume of literature, and one has to be selective. On the basis of the article and your response, i’ll continue on my way happy to give Amis a miss as he fades into obscurity.
I read Martin before I read Kingsley. In fact, I only read Kingsley because he was Martin’s father. Martin is by far the better writer, and more interesting. Reading “Time’s Arrow” on a flight to London was a surreal – and unforgettable – experience.
I have read and loved Amis, but my post disappeared. I really enjoy people who aren’t relentlessly politically correct and further it is about the book and not the author.
Amis described himself, along with Christopher Hitchens, as ‘bohemian lower middle class’. If you read ‘Experience’, his extraordinary life writing, you too would experience his insecurities, failures, and humour. A great book that stays with you. It is a great loss, I feel it keenly, unfathomably.
What a c**k-eyed response. Steve Murray hasn’t read Martin Amis, or had the slightest desire to do so, & doesn’t even know anyone else who has. Yet Amis has somehow “struck” him. Where did that happen — outside a pub after closing time?
Anyone who has read Amis, I mean with any attention, knows that snobbery was not one of his failings.
I have read and loved Amis, but my post disappeared. I really enjoy people who aren’t relentlessly politically correct and further it is about the book and not the author.
Amis described himself, along with Christopher Hitchens, as ‘bohemian lower middle class’. If you read ‘Experience’, his extraordinary life writing, you too would experience his insecurities, failures, and humour. A great book that stays with you. It is a great loss, I feel it keenly, unfathomably.
Last edited 11 months ago by CF Hankinson
Steve Murray
11 months ago
Hmmm… i’ve never felt the slightest inclination to read Amis, and never met anyone who has. It’s telling, for instance, that the article in The Post section has remained uncommented upon after many hours (several hours prior to this article).
Amis always struck me as an example of that peculiar brand of snobbish Englishman, born into a coterie of insular ‘literary circle’ privilege and unable to escape it. I could easily be wrong, but that wouldn’t make him or his work any more compelling. Amis’ peremptory dismissal of 1984 also seems wrong, denying him the insights which have haunted us since it was written. Am i missing insights too?
What this article seems to suggest is the danger to our way of thinking of ChatGPT, where the majority of non-fiction becomes derivative rather than original, and then proliferates like a disease spreading throughout the body of our humanity as it feeds upon itself through the virus of cliché. For that, i’m grateful to the author, but not to Amis.
Amis would have laughed himself silly reading this ponderous nonsense.
Jerry Carroll
11 months ago
Amis would have laughed himself silly reading this ponderous nonsense.
Josh Allan
11 months ago
The correlation between uninspired artistry and destructive autarky seems a little spurious, but I can’t deny it’s something I’ve noticed. Lionel Shriver has written about this too. It’s ubiquitous, and sinful.
Isn’t that a tiny bit clichéd itself?
Isn’t that a tiny bit clichéd itself?
Hmmm… i’ve never felt the slightest inclination to read Amis, and never met anyone who has. It’s telling, for instance, that the article in The Post section has remained uncommented upon after many hours (several hours prior to this article).
Amis always struck me as an example of that peculiar brand of snobbish Englishman, born into a coterie of insular ‘literary circle’ privilege and unable to escape it. I could easily be wrong, but that wouldn’t make him or his work any more compelling. Amis’ peremptory dismissal of 1984 also seems wrong, denying him the insights which have haunted us since it was written. Am i missing insights too?
What this article seems to suggest is the danger to our way of thinking of ChatGPT, where the majority of non-fiction becomes derivative rather than original, and then proliferates like a disease spreading throughout the body of our humanity as it feeds upon itself through the virus of cliché. For that, i’m grateful to the author, but not to Amis.
What a c**k-eyed response. Steve Murray hasn’t read Martin Amis, or had the slightest desire to do so, & doesn’t even know anyone else who has. Yet Amis has somehow “struck” him. Where did that happen — outside a pub after closing time?
Anyone who has read Amis, I mean with any attention, knows that snobbery was not one of his failings.
Your sarcasm is unwarranted, since what i’ve been “struck” with is a) listening to Amis when being interviewed or taking part in tv programmes, and b) reading thorough reviews of his work in sources such as TLS (Times Literary Supplement). He’s simply part of that London-centric crowd who have no idea what goes on outside quite a narrow milieu.
I’ll go further. If it weren’t for the accomplishments of his father, he’d never have found a publisher. There’s an immense volume of literature, and one has to be selective. On the basis of the article and your response, i’ll continue on my way happy to give Amis a miss as he fades into obscurity.
A TV interview with Amis during the time of Trump’s reign, and at the height of BLM hysteria, revealed him to be as utterly clueless about society and humanity as every other condescending, privileged, liberal literary type. His disdain for the American working class was about as snobby and ignorant as it gets.
Respectfully, Steve, I think that’s unfair and untrue (in much the same way that being Francis Ford Coppola’s nephew got Nic Cage his opportunity in Hollywood, but his own talent kept him there).
I also take your point regarding ‘so many books, so little time’, but I’d say (while obviously knowing nothing about your taste in books) that you’re missing out by ignoring the best of Martin Amis. A lot of his later work left me cold, but Money is truly great, and his debut The Rachel Papers is one of the few genuinely laugh-out-loud books I’ve ever read.
A TV interview with Amis during the time of Trump’s reign, and at the height of BLM hysteria, revealed him to be as utterly clueless about society and humanity as every other condescending, privileged, liberal literary type. His disdain for the American working class was about as snobby and ignorant as it gets.
Respectfully, Steve, I think that’s unfair and untrue (in much the same way that being Francis Ford Coppola’s nephew got Nic Cage his opportunity in Hollywood, but his own talent kept him there).
I also take your point regarding ‘so many books, so little time’, but I’d say (while obviously knowing nothing about your taste in books) that you’re missing out by ignoring the best of Martin Amis. A lot of his later work left me cold, but Money is truly great, and his debut The Rachel Papers is one of the few genuinely laugh-out-loud books I’ve ever read.
I read Martin before I read Kingsley. In fact, I only read Kingsley because he was Martin’s father. Martin is by far the better writer, and more interesting. Reading “Time’s Arrow” on a flight to London was a surreal – and unforgettable – experience.
Your sarcasm is unwarranted, since what i’ve been “struck” with is a) listening to Amis when being interviewed or taking part in tv programmes, and b) reading thorough reviews of his work in sources such as TLS (Times Literary Supplement). He’s simply part of that London-centric crowd who have no idea what goes on outside quite a narrow milieu.
I’ll go further. If it weren’t for the accomplishments of his father, he’d never have found a publisher. There’s an immense volume of literature, and one has to be selective. On the basis of the article and your response, i’ll continue on my way happy to give Amis a miss as he fades into obscurity.
I read Martin before I read Kingsley. In fact, I only read Kingsley because he was Martin’s father. Martin is by far the better writer, and more interesting. Reading “Time’s Arrow” on a flight to London was a surreal – and unforgettable – experience.
I have read and loved Amis, but my post disappeared. I really enjoy people who aren’t relentlessly politically correct and further it is about the book and not the author.
Amis described himself, along with Christopher Hitchens, as ‘bohemian lower middle class’. If you read ‘Experience’, his extraordinary life writing, you too would experience his insecurities, failures, and humour. A great book that stays with you. It is a great loss, I feel it keenly, unfathomably.
What a c**k-eyed response. Steve Murray hasn’t read Martin Amis, or had the slightest desire to do so, & doesn’t even know anyone else who has. Yet Amis has somehow “struck” him. Where did that happen — outside a pub after closing time?
Anyone who has read Amis, I mean with any attention, knows that snobbery was not one of his failings.
I have read and loved Amis, but my post disappeared. I really enjoy people who aren’t relentlessly politically correct and further it is about the book and not the author.
Amis described himself, along with Christopher Hitchens, as ‘bohemian lower middle class’. If you read ‘Experience’, his extraordinary life writing, you too would experience his insecurities, failures, and humour. A great book that stays with you. It is a great loss, I feel it keenly, unfathomably.
Hmmm… i’ve never felt the slightest inclination to read Amis, and never met anyone who has. It’s telling, for instance, that the article in The Post section has remained uncommented upon after many hours (several hours prior to this article).
Amis always struck me as an example of that peculiar brand of snobbish Englishman, born into a coterie of insular ‘literary circle’ privilege and unable to escape it. I could easily be wrong, but that wouldn’t make him or his work any more compelling. Amis’ peremptory dismissal of 1984 also seems wrong, denying him the insights which have haunted us since it was written. Am i missing insights too?
What this article seems to suggest is the danger to our way of thinking of ChatGPT, where the majority of non-fiction becomes derivative rather than original, and then proliferates like a disease spreading throughout the body of our humanity as it feeds upon itself through the virus of cliché. For that, i’m grateful to the author, but not to Amis.
What is absurd about “Koba the Dread”?
That puzzled me.
That puzzled me.
What is absurd about “Koba the Dread”?
Amis would have laughed himself silly reading this ponderous nonsense.
Amis would have laughed himself silly reading this ponderous nonsense.
The correlation between uninspired artistry and destructive autarky seems a little spurious, but I can’t deny it’s something I’ve noticed. Lionel Shriver has written about this too. It’s ubiquitous, and sinful.